The Camino del Norte once had a reputation that the peregrinos got off to a later start than on other Caminos. This is no longer the case. Erase una vez que el Camino del Norte tenía fama que los peregrinos empiezan su día más tarde que en otros Caminos.

I had it in my mind I was going to start the day around 7. I thought I remembered starting most days around 7 the year before. However, the alarms and the rustling of bags started around 5:30 in the morning. I had slept horribly due to sleeping next to the door that was opening and closing all night long. By 6:30, when I gave in and got out of bed, most of the beds were already empty. Tenía pensado empezar el día sobre las 7. Pensaba que el año pasado, solía empezar sobre las 7. Sin embargo, las alarmas y el movimiento de las personas y sus mochilas empezaron a sonar sobre las 5.30 de la mañana. Dormí fatal dado a dormir a lado de la puerta que estaba abriendo y cerrando toda la noche. A las 6.30, cuando me rendí y me levanté, la mayoría de las camas ya estaban vacías.

I got ready and was on my way out the door when suddenly it started to downpour. I digged around for the bag cover, and by the time I found it, the rain started to let up. I had breakfast at Café Graña, and by the time I was ready to leave, the rain had completely stopped and the sun was rising on a beautiful day. Me preparé por el día y estaba saliendo de la puerta cuando un diluvio empezó a caer. Busqué el cubierto de la mochilla, pero cuando lo encontré la lluvia ya estaba empezando a parar. Desayuné en el Café Graña, y cuando fui, el rain había parado por completo y el sol estaba amaneciendo un día precioso.

After climbing my way out of town, the arrows gave an option of turning or staying forward. I waited for a group of young Spanish peregrinos, who went forward. I did too. Later I found out the turning went by the beach but added a bunch of kilometres. The way I took was a path through woods under and over highways and very beautiful. It wasn’t too hot despite the sun making an appearance. Después de salir y subir mucho, las flechas me dieron una opción: Girar a la izquierda o seguir derecho. Esperé para un grupo de peregrinos españoles jovenes, quien seguía adelante. También seguí derecha. Después, me enteré que la ruta de la izquierda iba por la playa pero añadió bastantes kilómetros de más. El Camino que seguí yo era un sendero por un bosque, debajo y encima de carreteras y muy bonito. No hizo mucho calor aunque el sol apareció.

In Piedras Blancas, I stopped for a café con leche and to consult my guides and Google Maps. The Camino had a few options, and I went with the way that was supposed to go by the coast. As I was leaving the town of 9531 residents, I met up with a Spanish couple from Logroño. I asked them if we were headed the right way, and they shrugged and said I hope so. We started talking, and not only did I walk the rest of the day with them, I spent the next two days with them. They were from Logroño, and this was their first Camino. I would definitely need them the next few days for motivation and “animó”. En Piedras Blancas, paré para tomar un café con leche y para consultar los guías y Google Maps. El Camino tenía unas opciones, y fui con la ruta que decía que iba por la playa. Mientras estaba saliendo de ese pueblo de 9531 habitantes, conocí una pareja española. Les pregunté si estábamos yendo bien, y se encogieron los hombros, diciendo “espero que sí.” Empezamos a charlar, y caminé con ellos el resto del día y también los próximos dos días. Eran de Logroño y era su primer Camino. Les hacía falta durante los próximos días para animarme.

In a small gathering of houses that I would hesistate to call a village, we stopped for a mid-morning snack. I met a friendly dog and played with it. En un grupo de casas que no puedo decir “pueblo”, paramos para merendar. Conocí un perro agradable y jugué con él.

The trees and hills were a welcome respite after the previous day’s industrial view. There was a lot of ups and downs and winding turns, and there was even a castle next to the Ría Nalón that was simply beautiful. Crossing the Ría Nalón was an adventure and not for anyone who gets dizzy from bridges, as it was at least a kilometre long at my calcuation. Just after the river, there is a sharp climb up a mountain to reach Muros de Nalón. Los árboles y los montes eran un respiro bienvenido después del día anterior y las vistas de las industrias. Había mucho subir y bajar y muchos curvas sinuosas. Incluso había un castillo a lado de la Ría Nalón que era impresionante. Cruzar la Ría Nalón fue una aventura y no es para los que se marean de puentes. Calculo que era al menos un kilómetro. Justo después de la ría, hay una subida fuerte para llegar a Muros de Nalón.

Before the bridge, we saw a couple of suspicious American peregrinos(I am naming nationalities here. Remember, it’s up to you to represent your country whilst abroad!) running ahead of us from the direction of the train station. We considered it odd, but we didn’t say anything until we reached the albergue. They got there just before us and were trying to take our beds, which we had reserved the day before. Lucky for us, the hospitalera wasn’t having any of it and banished them to the teepee outside. Antes del puente, vimos unos peregrinos americanos sospechosos (Nombro la nacionalidad. Un recuerdo, siempre estás representando tu país cuando estás viajando en extranjero.) corriendo desde la dirección de la estación de trenes. Pensábamos que era algo raro, pero no decimos nada hasta que llegamos al albergue. Ellos llegaron justo antes de nosotros y estaban intentando coger las últimas camas. Los tres habíamos hecho una reserva un día antes. Tuvimos suerte, la hospitalera no les dieron las camas y les desterraron al tipi afuera.

Yes, I said teepee. Spain is different. Sí, he dicho tipi. Spain is different.

The albergue had food and large tapas I took advantage of. They also had some dogs I made friends with. In the afternoon, I visited the village of 1868 residents and had a coffee at one of the few bars. I had a Cuban sandwich for dinner at the albergue, which was tasty. I also had to nurse two blisters and planned for the next few days. El albergue tenía comida y daban tapas grandes, y aproveché de eso. También tenían perros con quien hice buenas migas. Por la tarde, visité el pueblo de 1868 habitantes y tomé un café en uno de los pocos bares que había. Cené un sandwich Cubano en el albergue, y estaba rico. También tenía que cuidar dos ampollas y planificar los próximos días.

I know they come from all over, but when they’re from the States, they tend to shout Ugly American louder than other countries and much better than the good representations (like you guys ;)) from the US, you know? Thanks for reading!

Did you train a lot to do it? And you went alone? It is something they say it comes very well to do alone … I would like to find a good stretch to do it, although I would have to travel from Alicante to there by train or something.

I do a lot of hiking so I’m pretty well trained now. I like doing it alone; I like being without any other peregrinos around and to connect with nature and myself. The Camino de la Lana starts in Alicante…there are lots of good trails (senderos) in Alacant. (PUIG CAMPANA will train you very well 😉 Nothing like Puig Campana on the Camino Frances…lots of mountains on the Camino del Norte.